A ligand-chirality controlled supramolecular hydrogel

Dalton Trans. 2010 Aug 14;39(30):7054-8. doi: 10.1039/c0dt00364f. Epub 2010 Jun 22.

Abstract

We report a novel example of ligand-chirality finely controlled in situ supramolecular hydrogel formation based on the coordination of phenylalanine (Phe) to Cu(II) with higher selectivity over other metal ions. As decreasing both enantiomeric excesses (ee%) of ligand Phe towards its D- and L-forms, the gelation ability of Phe-Cu(II) supramolecular metallogelator was found to be weakened and eventually disappeared, which likely resulted from the stereoselectivity of the ligand Phe. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic and/or pi-pi stacking interactions were also found to be essential for forming the metallogel. We believe that the present work can open up a new entry for developing novel and promising chiral sensing and recognition platforms, i.e. visually sensing chiral molecules by naked eyes due to the feature of a sol-to-gel transition induced smartly by varying the ligand chirality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Copper / chemistry
  • Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / chemical synthesis*
  • Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / chemistry
  • Ligands
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemical synthesis
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Models, Chemical
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemical synthesis*
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry
  • Particle Size
  • Phenylalanine / chemistry
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate
  • Phenylalanine
  • Copper